MURDER AND ARMS
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Sam's articles were going out quicker than anticipated. Since the Magida article, she had quickly followed up with a piece on the Angel Shark and another on $1,000,000 appropriation that no one seemed to know what happened to. Each article lead to Devaney without using his name, it was making him very nervous and he had to get to the bottom of it. Before his world was completely destroyed.
Murder and Arms
By Nire Hernada
Sweeper, an interesting word, to the lay person it means someone who sweeps. To the CIA it means someone who kills, quickly efficiently and without question. This person follows orders better than any soldier. If the CIA has a problem with someone they call in a sweeper. They tried it with Corporal Magida, but luckily the truth came out. They have tried it with others, their fates were not as lucky. Seven heads of state were killed in the last ten years. Three were killed the same way. Three had heart attacks that could not be explained and the seventh just disappeared during a holiday retreat. What do they all have in common? They refused a request. Frightening, to think that men who wanted to run their countries the way they saw fit, paid the ultimate price.
These men had paid handsomely for weapons, illegal purchases, but purchases none the less. Within months of the sales, they were dead. They never realized that there was an additional price to pay. They had sold their souls to the devil. The question still remains who is that devil.
The DCI didn't even finish reading the article. The entire office heard him yell. He was furious. He knew that Nettington was behind this. Nettington was to ensure that Webb came out looking like the villain, each article pointed directly towards him. He called Nettington and asked to meet. Nervously Nettington agreed. It was the most foolish decision he could have made.
SAM'S HOME
Sam was sitting at her desk, waiting for Webb to reply. After the phone call last night, she needed to talk to him again and convince him that everything was fine.
"Hey jackass, are you there?" Sam typed.
"Right here," Webb typed. "Did you get some rest?"
"Yes and I am feeling much better." Sam replied.
"So anything new?" Webb asked.
"I felt the baby kick," Sam typed. "It was kind of weird."
"I wish I was there," Webb typed.
"I know you do." Sam replied.
"Did you get the bassinet?" Webb typed.
"It arrived an hour ago, you sneak. It's beautiful," Sam typed. "Good thing Tiner and I didn't go out shopping last night."
"I am becoming an expert at internet shopping," Webb typed.
She wanted desperately to tell Webb about the other articles but knew it would worry him. She never told him about the Angel Shark or the arms deals. When she did discuss the articles with him, she made them seem like simple investigative pieces. He had no idea that she was setting it up to destroy the DCI.
"You're shopping on the internet? That's funny!" Sam typed. "Hold on someone is at the door."
Sam answered the door and was given a package from a messenger. She opened at she walked back to the computer.
"That's strange. I got a package from my editor." Sam typed and then opened the envelope.
"What is it?" Webb asked.
"Listen, I love you and I need to go." Sam typed quickly. "I forgot I was supposed to get Military Beat to Nettington early."
"Danaher, what's going on?" Webb typed.
"Nothing, I love you." Sam typed. "I have to run."
Sam logged off her computer and started reading the papers Nettington had sent her. She looked at the letter that was attached.
Sam-
One of my favorite stories was Les Miserables. My wife loved the musical and dragged me to New York on several occasions to see it. I was always impressed by the determination of Jean Valjean to do the right thing and by Javert's drive to see justice was done…
On this page I write my last confession, read it well when I at last am sleeping. I am meeting with Javert today, if all goes as expected I will not return. We never had the same relationship as you and Charles, but I have always respected your talent and abilities. Finish what was started and bring him home.
My God in heaven look down on me with mercy.
Michael
Sam was confused by the note, and continued to read the documents that were enclosed. The first one was regarding a fire at Berkley. Nettington wrote how the fire got out of control and the DCI, then a student, helped him escape prosecution. He explained how he had been blackmailed ever since.
The next document was a detailed outline of how the articles were supposed to go and how Webb was responsible. There were pages upon pages listing everything the DCI and Osborne had been involved with over the past ten years. Even without Sam's articles, this information would destroy them.
The last document was a simple sheet of paper; it had two words written on it, "Name Names".
Sam just looked at the papers in front of her. She wasn't sure what to make of any of it. She did an internet search about the Berkley fire and read that the arsonists had never been found. She went back and read his note. He was meeting with Javert, what is he talking about? She grabbed the phone and called Meredith.
"Meredith, hi how are you?" Sam asked.
"I'm well, how's the mother to be?" Meredith replied.
"I'm good, listen I need your help." Sam stated.
"What can I do for you?" Meredith asked.
"Can we meet?" Sam asked.
"How about in an hour at the college cafeteria," Meredith suggested.
"I'll see you then." Sam said and got ready to leave.
An hour later she met with Meredith.
"I received this today, but I am not sure what to make of it," Sam said.
"Those are lyrics from Les Miz," Meredith said reading over the note.
"I don't know the story all that well," Sam said, "I thought maybe you did."
"In the end Jean Valjean dies, after he tells his life's story to his adopted daughter." Meredith said. "Javert kills himself."
"That sucks," Sam said.
"Well he is tormented by the past and the fact that he could not accomplish his goal." Meredith said. "But something tells me that the writer sees himself more as Valjean than Javert."
"What would have happened if the story took a different route and Valjean turned himself into Javert?" Sam asked.
"Interesting twist, Valjean would have been imprisoned. Then again Javert may have just killed him." Meredith replied.
"Sam, I have stayed out of everything that is going on, at AJ's request. Now I have to ask, does this have anything to do with the articles?" Meredith asked.
"Yes, I think I just got my final one." Sam said. "I also think that my editor is going to meet the same fate as Javert, I mean Valjean. Either way, I think my editor is trying to tell me that he is going to die."
"Sam, we need talk to AJ." Meredith said as she rose.
"I agree, I'll follow you," Sam said and they left for JAG.
JAG OFFICES
They arrived at the JAG offices in record time. When they walked in, the entire bullpen was silent. Everyone was watching the television.
"… the victim has been identified as Michael Nettington, editor of the Post. It appears that he was the victim of a mugging gone wrong…"
"Oh my god," Sam yelled, breaking the silence and turning pale.
"Sam," Tiner said running over to her. "Someone get some water."
"I'm fine," Sam assured him.
"My office," AJ bellowed. The entire group assembled into AJ's office.
"Before anything, Gunny I want you to go get Ashlyn now!" AJ ordered. "Take a guard with you to drive her car back and bring her here. Sturgis get Bobbie here as well."
"Aye Sir," They replied and took off.
"It appears that these articles have now brought about murder." AJ announced. "No one, I repeat no one is to be alone."
"Sir you don't think they would try anything against one of us?" Harm asked.
"Is that a chance you want to take?" AJ asked.
"No, I don't," Harm said looking at Mac.
"Admiral, I have the final information." Sam stated. "Nettington sent it to me."
"That would explain his demise. Does anyone know he sent it to you?" AJ replied.
"I don't know," Sam replied.
"We need to act fast." AJ stated.
"What do you mean?" Mac asked.
"We need to get Webb back here before the final article hits the stands." AJ stated. "And we need to protect Sam."
"Why me? He has no clue I am writing the articles." Sam said.
"I think he does, I think that's one of the reasons Nettington is dead." AJ replied.
"How are we going to do this?" Tiner asked.
"If my guess is right, Webb can't enter the US under his own name." AJ advised. "The DCI is scared, the last thing he wants is another article to hit the stands or having Webb back here who can relay most of the facts."
"Oh God," Sam winced. "What have I done?"
"Sam, hold yourself together." Harm said. "You have got to be able to write."
"I know," Sam replied as her cell phone rang. "Danaher, Richard?"
"How are you Samantha?" McCartney asked.
"I'm fine, why are you calling me?" Sam asked.
"Sam, I don't know how to tell you this," Richard began.
"Is he okay?" Sam asked turning pale again
"Sam, they are saying he's selling arms." McCartney informed her.
"Is he alive?" Sam demanded.
"Yes, but he's in a lot of trouble." McCartney said. "They have connected the assassinations to him."
"He would never do that, you know him." Sam snapped. "How can you believe it?"
"I don't, and I shouldn't even be talking to you." McCartney said. "I just felt I owed it to you."
"What are they saying exactly?" Sam asked.
"Word has it, that he is responsible for the deaths and arms deals." Richard replied.
"Richard, you need to remove yourself from everything, it's not Webb." Sam announced.
"How do you know this?" Richard replied.
"Richard, trust me on this," Sam stated.
"Sam, heads are going to roll," Richard said and then added, "Literally."
Sam disconnected the call without another word and relayed the conversation to the rest of the group.
"I knew it," Harm said under his breath.
"How do we get him out?" Mac asked.
"He can't exactly walk through Dulles," Sam stated, "They'll be waiting for him."
"They'll be waiting for him at Dulles but they won't be waiting for him at Andrews." AJ announced.
"What?" They asked.
"Harm, isn't it time for your quals?" AJ asked.
"Actually it is," Harm said with a smile.
"You're going to go for your quals now? When I am due soon, Harm you can't…" Mac began and then stopped and smiled. "You can't let your quals pass."
They discussed the possibilities of using the military to get Webb back to the states and made some phone calls. Once they had formulated a plan, they had to let Webb know.
"Sam when was the last time you spoke to Webb?" Tiner asked.
"I was just going to IM him now," Sam said, you could see the wheels turning.
She logged into the instant messenger service and looked to see if Webb was on, luckily Webb was always logged in whenever he was in the office.
"Hey Webb, where the hell are you?" Sam typed.
"Right here," Webb replied.
"I want you home!" Sam typed.
"I know I want to be there too." Webb replied.
"I don't think you understand I WANT YOU HOME!" Sam pounded the keys.
"What do you want me to do? Click my heels three times?" Webb replied.
"If it would work," Sam smiled. "Listen, Harm and I are going to rent Black Hawk Down. We also thought we would rent Escape from Alcatraz. What do you think?" Sam typed.
"Good movies, what day?" Webb asked.
"Harm when?" Sam asked.
"Three days." Harm replied.
"What day is that?" Sam asked nervously.
"Saturday," They all replied.
"We're going to rent on Saturday." Sam typed.
"Sounds like you are going to be busy." Webb typed. "I think you should also rent Embassy and White Heat."
"He wanted to watch some movies before he does his quals." Sam typed.
"I wish I was there to watch with you," Webb typed.
"So do I," Sam replied.
"Tell Harm the best time to watch White Heat is at midnight," Webb typed.
"I will and I love you." Sam said.
"I love you too." Webb typed and Sam logged off.
Sam turned to the group, "I think he understood. The helo is going to have to go in at midnight."
"I have a question," Coates said finally speaking. "Can you explain those movie references to me and what they have to do with anything?"
"Sure," Sam smiled. "Black Hawk Down is about a helo, Escape From Alcatraz was my way of saying he needs to get out of there. At the end of the movie White Heat, James Cagney is standing on top of a tall tower or something and the reference to Embassy, meant that he would be at the Embassy. Webb saying that Harm should watch the movie at midnight meant the time for the pick up. I just hope that we don't have our signals crossed."
"You don't," Tiner said putting his hand on her shoulder.
So, it began. In three days if all went well, Webb would be back in the United States and Sam's final article would just be hitting the stands on Friday.